Report: Darren Bent to leave Aston Villa

Aston Villa will reportedly allow Darren Bent to leave Villa Park in January should they receive an acceptable offer for the England striker.

The 28-year-old was stripped of the captaincy this season following a poor start to the campaign and it has been suggested that he is no longer on speaking terms with boss Paul Lambert.

According to The People, Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool are both monitoring proceedings, although Villa are keen to recoup a large percentage of the £24m they paid for Bent 18 months ago.

QPR chairman Tony Fernandes is understood to be an admirer of the England international, but Liverpool have also long been linked with a move for the former Tottenham Hotspur forward.

Bent scored 10 goals for Villa last season.